XL: Text Import Wizard Maximum Start Row Limitation of 32767

ID: Q119770

The information in this article applies to:

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel, when you use the Text Import Wizard to import a text file, you may receive one of the following error messages.

In Microsoft Excel Versions 5.x and 7.x

   Number is not valid.

In Microsoft Excel 97

   Your entry cannot be used. An integer or decimal number may be
   required.

CAUSE

This error message occurs when the value you specify in the "Start import at row" box is 32,768 or higher. The highest value you can enter in this box is 32,767.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, use the method appropriate for your version of Microsoft Excel.

Excel 5.x and 7.x -- Importing Text Files with Fewer than 49,151 Rows

The maximum number of rows in a Microsoft Excel 5.0 or 7.0 worksheet is 16,384. If you open a text file with 16,384 rows or fewer, all rows of the text file will be imported into one worksheet. However, if you attempt to import more rows in a text file than are available in the worksheet, only 16,384 rows of the text file will be loaded, and you will receive the following error message: 

   File Not Loaded Completely
If your worksheet contains more than 16,384 but fewer than 49,151 rows, you can use the Text Import Wizard to import the text file into multiple worksheets by following these steps:

1. On the File menu, click Open. Select the text file to open, and click 

   OK.
2. In the Text Import Wizard, select 1 for "Start Import at Row" and click 
   Finish.
3. The first 16,384 rows of the text file are imported into a worksheet, 
   and you receive the error message "File Not Loaded Completely." Click
   OK. Save this workbook.
4. Repeat step 1. In the Text Import Wizard, select 16385 for "Start Import 
   at Row," and click Finish.
5. The next 16,384 rows of the text file are imported into a worksheet, and 
   you receive the error message "File Not Loaded Completely" (if the text
   file contains more than 32,768 rows). Click OK. Save this workbook.
6. Repeat step 1. In the Text Import Wizard select 32767 for "Start Import 
   at Row," and click Finish.
7. The last 16,384 rows of the text file are imported into a worksheet.

8. You can delete the first two rows in this workbook because these rows 

   were also imported into the workbook you saved in step 5. Save this
   workbook.

Excel 97 -- Importing Text Files with Fewer than 98,303 Rows

The maximum number of rows in a Microsoft Excel 97 worksheet is 65,536. If you open a text file with 65,536 rows or fewer, all rows of the text file will be imported into one worksheet. However, if you attempt to import more rows in a text file than are available in the worksheet, only 65,536 rows of the text file will be loaded, and you will receive the following error message: 

     File Not Loaded Completely
If your worksheet contains more than 65,536 but fewer than 98,303 rows, you can use the Text Import Wizard to import the text file into multiple worksheets by following these steps:

1. On the File menu, click Open. Select the text file to open, and click 

   OK.
2. In the Text Import Wizard, select 1 for "Start Import at Row," and click 
   Finish.
3. The first 65,536 rows of the text file are imported into a worksheet, 
   and you receive the error message "File Not Loaded Completely." Click
   OK. Save this workbook.
4. Repeat step 1. In the Text Import Wizard, select 32767 for "Start Import 
   at Row," and click Finish.
5. Note that 65,536 rows of the text file starting at row 32766 are 
   imported into a worksheet. Save this workbook.
6. You can delete the first 32,770 rows in this workbook because these rows 
   were also imported into the workbook you saved in step 5. Save this
   workbook.

Importing Larger Text Files

If your text file is too large to import using the Text Import Wizard as described earlier, you will need to create a macro to import your text file that determines the size of the text file and breaks it up into individual worksheets.

For an example of a Visual Basic for Applications macro that accomplishes this, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 

   ARTICLE-ID: Q120596
   TITLE     : "XL: Importing Text Files Larger Than 16384 Rows"

REFERENCES

Excel 97

For more information about the Text Import Wizard, click Contents And Index on the Help menu, click the Index tab in Microsoft Excel Help, type the following text 

   importing data, text files
and then double-click the selected text to go to the "View or save files from other programs as Microsoft Excel workbooks" topic. If you are unable to find the information you need, ask the Office Assistant.

Additional query words: xl97 7.00a 7.00 5.00 5.00c 

Keywords          : kbdta xlloadsave xlwiz 
Version           : WINDOWS:5.0,5.0c,7.0,7.0a,97
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: May 19, 1999